Fungal Species:  Schizophyllum commune

Extrusion-based additive manufacturing of fungal-based composite materials using the tinder fungus Fomes fomentarius

Scientists have developed a way to 3D print objects using mushroom mycelium (the thread-like structure of fungi) mixed with seaweed-derived alginate. These lightweight, spongy printed objects are biodegradable and have properties similar to polystyrene foam, but are made from renewable resources. This breakthrough could eventually replace plastic foam in packaging and other applications with an eco-friendly fungal alternative.

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Advanced Fungal Biotechnologies in Accomplishing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): What Do We Know and What Comes Next?

Fungi are remarkable organisms with tremendous untapped potential for solving global challenges. They can be engineered to produce life-saving medicines like antibiotics and cholesterol-lowering drugs, create nutritious food alternatives, clean up polluted environments, and help fight climate change. As we transition to more sustainable living practices, fungi represent a natural solution that has been used for centuries but is only now being fully appreciated through modern biotechnology.

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Harnessing the Nutritional Value, Therapeutic Applications, and Environmental Impact of Mushrooms

Mushrooms are nutritional powerhouses packed with proteins, vitamins, minerals, and special compounds that fight disease. They can help prevent and manage serious conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes while supporting overall health and immunity. Beyond the kitchen, mushrooms are being developed into medicines and cosmetic products. Growing and using mushrooms also helps the environment by creating sustainable alternatives to traditional medicines and animal feeds.

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Hydrophobin Gene Cmhyd4 Negatively Regulates Fruiting Body Development in Edible Fungi Cordyceps militaris

Scientists studied a gene called Cmhyd4 in Cordyceps militaris, an edible medicinal mushroom. By removing this gene, they found that the mushroom produced more fruiting bodies with higher levels of beneficial compounds like carotenoids and adenosine. This discovery could help mushroom farmers grow better quality mushrooms with improved nutritional value through selective breeding.

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Organic Nitrogen Supplementation Increases Vegetative and Reproductive Biomass in a Versatile White Rot Fungus

Researchers studied how adding nitrogen from plant litter affects the growth and mushroom production of a wood-rotting fungus called Cyclocybe aegerita. They found that adding the organic compound adenosine—which naturally occurs in plant litter—significantly boosted both the fungus’s vegetative growth and the production of mushrooms. The results suggest that fungi living in wood benefit from being able to absorb nitrogen-rich compounds from nearby plant material, which improves their ability to grow and reproduce.

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The Effect of Mushroom Culture Filtrates on the Inhibition of Mycotoxins Produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus carbonarius

Researchers tested extracts from 42 different mushroom species to find ones that could prevent harmful toxins produced by mold from contaminating our food and animal feed. They discovered that two mushroom species—turkey tail mushroom and a species called Schizophyllum commune—produced compounds that blocked over 90% of toxin production. These mushroom compounds work by boosting the mold’s natural defense systems, essentially making it unable to produce the dangerous toxins.

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Snowball: a novel gene family required for developmental patterning of fruiting bodies of mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomycetes)

Scientists discovered a new gene called snb1 that is critical for mushroom development. When this gene is removed, mushrooms grow into simple ball-shaped structures without the normal parts like caps and stems. By studying these abnormal mushrooms, researchers identified many other genes involved in proper mushroom formation. This discovery helps explain how mushrooms develop their complex structures from simple fungal networks.

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The Nearly Complete Genome of Grifola frondosa and Light-Induced Genes Screened Based on Transcriptomics Promote the Production of Triterpenoid Compounds

Researchers sequenced the complete genetic code of maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) and discovered how light exposure influences the production of beneficial compounds called triterpenoids. The high-quality genome assembly revealed 12,526 genes and showed that light triggers specific genes involved in making these medicinal compounds. This breakthrough provides a scientific foundation for growing maitake mushrooms with optimized levels of health-promoting substances.

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Immunomodulatory Effects of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms and Their Bioactive Immunoregulatory Products

Mushrooms have been used for health for thousands of years and contain special compounds that help boost the immune system and fight cancer. Scientists have identified several key active ingredients in mushrooms like polysaccharides and proteins that can activate immune cells and reduce tumors. Some mushroom products like lentinan from shiitake mushrooms have already been approved as cancer treatments in Japan. While most evidence comes from lab studies, ongoing research suggests mushroom-based medicines could become important therapeutic options.

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Current Uses of Mushrooms in Cancer Treatment and Their Anticancer Mechanisms

This comprehensive review examines how medicinal mushrooms can help treat cancer. Certain mushroom species and their compounds, particularly polysaccharides, can boost the immune system to fight cancer cells, reduce chemotherapy side effects, and overcome drug resistance. Multiple mushrooms are currently in clinical trials showing promise in improving cancer patient outcomes when used alongside conventional treatments.

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